(2) The Governor of Shantung states that the construction of embankments along the lower course of the Yellow River was undertaken by his predecessor in 1883. These immense works extended through fourteen Aistricts, from Tung-o Hsien to the sea, and were completed in the summer of the follo ing year. They paid for at a fi rate for every cubic yard of soil Then pecuniary assistance was gi people to enable them to repair their private embankments. In 1885 the great embankment, was raised i lit, wid Inst year both it and the private embankments were raised again, 'To complete these yigantic works with rapidity, each district was required to furnish a' supply of mei This was arranged by the local officials an gentry, who collected labourers from the interior of their districts as well as the riv The utility of the work was recognized, and men came forwarding swarms with the utmost willingness, the poorer ones being glad of the opportunity to earn wages But in spite of the immense sums furnished by the government, it is true that the country districts expended large amounts aswell. For private persons with means undertook the construction of considerable lengths of embankment, and in other cases the earth had to be brought from a distance and was, therefore, more oustly than usual but the arrangements made would not allow the payment of an increased price for it. Therefore, as an encouragement to the public for the future, the Memorialist proposes that His Majesty should at the next exmninations allow an additional military graduate and an additional civil graduate to selected from each of the fourteen districts concerned,—Granted by Rescript.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.